I have a tortle monk, drunken master with sailor background.
I took tavern brawler as the 4th level feat
The idea being a sailor has all kinds of items like belaying pins, buckets, mops, gaff hooks, chains, lanterns, tankards etc.
I think it is reasonable to allow improvised weapons, if proficient, to be included as monk weapons for the purpose of martial arts feature. Especially for drunken master subclass
Jackie Chan being the example of monk and the theatrical value of improvised weapons… he actually has a great one called “drunken master”.. Just saying.
I am not convinced all monks should get this leniency, and I certainly don’t think they should be automatically given proficiency with improvised weapons. All told most improvised weapons can reasonably be represented on the simple weapons table so why not call it a monk weapon if you have actually taken the step to train with it.
Rapier(or any martial), however, is not a simple weapon nor should it be allowed to be employed as an improvised weapon. The same result can be achieved by using “short sword” stats until 11th level when martial arts changes the die to 1d8.
To the original point, tie any weapon you like to the simple weapon or short sword list. i.e. a tankard is a club, a hook a dagger, sheep shears a sickle etc. Discuss with the DM. There ya go, a balanced and flavoured monk. DM dependent of course
Any simple melee weapon that doesn’t have the two-handed or heavy trait along with the shortsword is considered a monk weapon (although monks have proficiency in all simple weapons).
Interesting discussion, everyone. To add further fuel to our imaginations and monk awesomeness, below are weapons lists from Oriental Adventures. The first image is from the 1st edition (1985); the second is from 3rd edition (2001).
... I took tavern brawler as the 4th level feat ... I think it is reasonable to allow improvised weapons, if proficient, to be included as monk weapons for the purpose of martial arts feature. Especially for drunken master subclass ...
That is definitely the flavor I want to go for and fits perfectly with what is likely the inspiration for the subclass (Jackie Chan, as you said). I feel like tavern brawler should just be baked into the drunken master subclass.
I am not convinced all monks should get this leniency, and I certainly don’t think they should be automatically given proficiency with improvised weapons. All told most improvised weapons can reasonably be represented on the simple weapons table so why not call it a monk weapon if you have actually taken the step to train with it. Rapier(or any martial), however, is not a simple weapon nor should it be allowed to be employed as an improvised weapon. The same result can be achieved by using “short sword” stats until 11th level when martial arts changes the die to 1d8...
That makes perfect sense to me. The thing that still irks me a/b the monk class in 5e, though, is the lack of "martial" weapons. Because as you pointed out they "have actually taken the step to train with it" as part of their "martial arts training!"
Okay, so maybe a kwando is just a re-skinned glaive, and of course, it shouldn't level the same way a simple monk weapon would. And maybe if it's heavy you still have to use STR instead of DEX like other monk weapons, but that it doesn't even qualify as a monk weapon is bullshtuff!
Interesting discussion, everyone. To add further fuel to our imaginations and monk awesomeness, below are weapons lists from Oriental Adventures. The first image is from the 1st edition (1985); the second is from 3rd edition (2001).
Thank you, I've trying to remember those! 3rd edition OA (3.5 maybe?) was my intro to D&D. I really wish 5e just ported over the monk weapons. I've been trying to find a workaround for a chain whip or meteor hammer that doesn't require a houserule, but I think it's going to have to. I think the easiest thing would be to re-skin a whip to bludgeoning, but have to houserule it as a monk weapon so it levels and you still get your monk abilities. Just like Gigaflop was saying, I'm really trying to get a Jackie Chan feel, but I want a composite character with his Drunken Master and his rope dart fighting.
Maybe take first 4 levels of Fighter to get Battle Master + Trip, Parry, and Lunging then over to Monk. Or Monk to 4th for a feat or ASI then Fighter to 4th for superiority dice then back to Monk. I guess you might get the same feel with the Mobile Feat and Sweeping Attack, but then you lose all the other cool sh!t like patient defense and step of the wind. I'm stuck creatively, any help is welcome.
Public Mod Note(MellieDM): Please check the date of the last post of a thread before adding a new post, and start a new thread as opposed to reviving an old discussion. Thank you!
Next time I'm playing a Monk I'm either asking to get a Getsugasan or a Naginata, using the Spear stats although I'd ask for slashing instead of piercing for the Getsugasan and no throwing property. (I like the Getsugasan for it's hey a dead person, let me pay respects and bury him using my shovel/weapon, and the naginata I just love the concept of a monk with a Glaive even if I can't actually use a Glaive)
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(MellieDM):
Please check the date of the last post of a thread before adding a new post, and start a new thread as opposed to reviving an old discussion. Thank you!
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I have a tortle monk, drunken master with sailor background.
I took tavern brawler as the 4th level feat
The idea being a sailor has all kinds of items like belaying pins, buckets, mops, gaff hooks, chains, lanterns, tankards etc.
I think it is reasonable to allow improvised weapons, if proficient, to be included as monk weapons for the purpose of martial arts feature. Especially for drunken master subclass
Jackie Chan being the example of monk and the theatrical value of improvised weapons… he actually has a great one called “drunken master”.. Just saying.
I am not convinced all monks should get this leniency, and I certainly don’t think they should be automatically given proficiency with improvised weapons. All told most improvised weapons can reasonably be represented on the simple weapons table so why not call it a monk weapon if you have actually taken the step to train with it.
Rapier(or any martial), however, is not a simple weapon nor should it be allowed to be employed as an improvised weapon. The same result can be achieved by using “short sword” stats until 11th level when martial arts changes the die to 1d8.
To the original point, tie any weapon you like to the simple weapon or short sword list. i.e. a tankard is a club, a hook a dagger, sheep shears a sickle etc. Discuss with the DM. There ya go, a balanced and flavoured monk. DM dependent of course
Jesus Saves!... Everyone else takes damage.
Made a Elf Monk modeled after Vega and he used a claw.
Any simple melee weapon that doesn’t have the two-handed or heavy trait along with the shortsword is considered a monk weapon (although monks have proficiency in all simple weapons).
Interesting discussion, everyone. To add further fuel to our imaginations and monk awesomeness, below are weapons lists from Oriental Adventures. The first image is from the 1st edition (1985); the second is from 3rd edition (2001).
That is definitely the flavor I want to go for and fits perfectly with what is likely the inspiration for the subclass (Jackie Chan, as you said). I feel like tavern brawler should just be baked into the drunken master subclass.
That makes perfect sense to me. The thing that still irks me a/b the monk class in 5e, though, is the lack of "martial" weapons. Because as you pointed out they "have actually taken the step to train with it" as part of their "martial arts training!"
Okay, so maybe a kwando is just a re-skinned glaive, and of course, it shouldn't level the same way a simple monk weapon would. And maybe if it's heavy you still have to use STR instead of DEX like other monk weapons, but that it doesn't even qualify as a monk weapon is bullshtuff!
Thank you, I've trying to remember those! 3rd edition OA (3.5 maybe?) was my intro to D&D. I really wish 5e just ported over the monk weapons. I've been trying to find a workaround for a chain whip or meteor hammer that doesn't require a houserule, but I think it's going to have to. I think the easiest thing would be to re-skin a whip to bludgeoning, but have to houserule it as a monk weapon so it levels and you still get your monk abilities. Just like Gigaflop was saying, I'm really trying to get a Jackie Chan feel, but I want a composite character with his Drunken Master and his rope dart fighting.
Maybe take first 4 levels of Fighter to get Battle Master + Trip, Parry, and Lunging then over to Monk. Or Monk to 4th for a feat or ASI then Fighter to 4th for superiority dice then back to Monk. I guess you might get the same feel with the Mobile Feat and Sweeping Attack, but then you lose all the other cool sh!t like patient defense and step of the wind. I'm stuck creatively, any help is welcome.
Next time I'm playing a Monk I'm either asking to get a Getsugasan or a Naginata, using the Spear stats although I'd ask for slashing instead of piercing for the Getsugasan and no throwing property. (I like the Getsugasan for it's hey a dead person, let me pay respects and bury him using my shovel/weapon, and the naginata I just love the concept of a monk with a Glaive even if I can't actually use a Glaive)